Richards on St. Louis: 'He's a good inspiration'

While Brad Richards hasn't been Lightning teammates with Marty St. Louis for five years, the two former linemates remain close friends.

And Richards, the ex-Lightning star and current Rangers forward, said he's "thrilled" it worked out where he'll be at the Tampa Bay Times Forum tonight when St. Louis gets honored for playing his 1,000th game.

"I still talk to him pretty much weekly on the game and things we're doing, whether it's stick length to how the game is played - we still pick each other's brains," Richards said after today's morning skate. "He's helped me a lot, I still look up to him, and love how he competes. He's a good inspiration to me."

Richards is not surprised about St. Louis' longevity, with the Hart Trophy winner and Stanley Cup champion boasting a legendary work ethic.

"Obviously the hockey sense is always going to be there," Richards said. "But the fact that his legs are still moving the way they were maybe not at 25 (years old), but at 30 for sure. It is very impressive when you can do that. With the hockey sense he has, that's why he's still got all the success. It's great to see."

St. Louis is happy to see Richards looking like his old self, with six goals and 10 assists so far after a disappointing 2012 season (11 goals, 23 assists in just 46 games).

"Any athlete that plays at a high level in their sports, a lot of it is mental," St. Louis said. "We all know he has the ability, I don't think he was in a good place mentally last year. I think he's in a pretty good place right now, he really prepared himself to have a great season and I'm happy to see him doing well. It doesn't surprise me."